Popular Baseball Players Score With Brand Marketers

A big baseball market and big names can secure players big deals when it comes to marketers -- even those that are retired.


A new marketability study shows two New York Yankees -- Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera -- as the top players going into the 2011 season. Even then, Derek Jeter is far and away the biggest name -- earning more than three times the scores of his nearest competitor (and teammate) Mariano Rivera, according to Nielsen and E-Poll's N-Score ranking.

Jeter posted a national N-Score of 165 and local N-Score of 407. Rivera earned a 56 national and 226 local number.

"With a score more than three times his nearest competitor, it's no wonder he's been the face for Nike, Gatorade, Fleet Bank, Ford, VISA and more," stated Stephen Master, vice president of Nielsen Sports. In third place was Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers, with a 40 national score and a 232 local number. Then comes Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals (40 national; 471 local); Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays (39, 131); Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners (37; 454); Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves (36, 274); Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins (36, 620); Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (35, 151); and Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies (34, 336).

The wildly popular Mauer may not be as in demand as Jeter and Rivera -- at least nationally -- but Master adds thay local numbers are important. "While many of the players may not have national visibility, locally their brands resonate at a very strong level, with some having local N-Scores almost 10 times that of their national one."

Nielsen says advertisers spend more than $1 billion a year on athletic endorsements.

The mantle of biggest former player goes to former New York Yankee Yogi Berra, with a national N-Score of 257; followed by Willie Mays (236) and Cal Ripken, Jr. (228).

Nielsen says there is one big surprise: former Yankees manager Joe Torre beat out his former players -- Jeter and Rodriguez -- with a national score of 207, making him the fourth-most-marketable baseball personality.

JAY-Z & YANKEES LAUNCH LIMITED EDITION MERCHANDISE

Get your official Yankees/JAY-Z limited-edition co-brand merchandise which is exclusively being sold at Yankee Stadium since Monday, August 30. The merchandise will be available at Yankee Stadium through the JAY-Z/Eminem concerts taking place in the venue on Sept. 13 and Sept. 14.

All items will feature the presence of Yankees and JAY-Z logos, and all items have been seen and approved by JAY-Z. Merchandise will include men’s and women’s T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts — all by Majestic — along with New Era 59/50 fitted Yankees caps with the album logo from JAY-Z’s The Blueprint 3.

The merchandise has been created to commemorate Yankee Stadium’s first official concerts on Sept. 13 and Sept. 14, when JAY-Z and Eminem will co-headline in the Bronx. The concerts make up the second half of the artists’ “Home and Home” tour and will follow their joint performances at Detroit’s Comerica Park on Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.

Yankees/JAY-Z merchandise can be purchased in-Stadium during games or seven days a week at the Yankee Stadium Great Hall Team Store near Gate 6, located on the northwest corner of 161st Street and River Avenue. The hours of operation for the Gate 6 store are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. On all days or nights that the Yankees play home games, the store stays open until one hour after the game ends.

JAY-Z X NEW YORK YANKEES X NEW ERA

                            

NEW YORK – Get your New York Yankees hats here — with a Jay-Z logo.

The hip-hop mogul is teaming up with his favorite baseball squad on co-branded clothes that will be sold exclusively at Yankee Stadium beginning next week. All the items, from baseball caps to T-shirts and hooded sweat shirts, will feature Yankees and Jay-Z logos.

In a news release Thursday, the Yankees said the attire was created to commemorate the first official concerts at the new Yankee Stadium on Sept. 13 and 14, when Jay-Z and Eminem will co-headline.

The shows mark the second half of their "Home and Home" tour, following joint performances at Detroit's Comerica Park on Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.

The new merchandise will be available at Yankee Stadium from Aug. 30 to Sept. 14.


Posted by Matt "The Mayor"

JAY-Z x EMINEM CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT

NIKE STICKBALL TOURNAMENT

Nike Stickball Tournament from NANO on Vimeo.

Nike Sportswear celebrated the start of baseball season and opening day for the NY Yankees by hosting its first ever NSW Stickball tournament and block party, hosted and DJ’d by Q-Tip. The roster of players included 30 NY locals including Asher Roth, Vashti, and Jesse Boykins, who also sang the National Anthem.